GDT: 2021-2 season game 74 LA Kings vs Minnesota Wild @2:00pm 4/10/22

[Herby]

Iafallo doesn't even look effective anymore, let alone statistically. It's like Moore took all of his hunger and battle and added it on top of what Moore already has shown last season. I still think there's physically something wrong with him, but even if that's true, it's on the dumb ass coaching staff to know that a 70% Iafallo is NOT as effective as a 100% rookie. He does nothing to justify those big minutes and opportunities he's getting.

This is why it reminds me of Richards, it’s not just the offensive game that has collapsed it is everything. Sometimes offensive players just go into long term slumps where you can see it’s just a matter of time, with Iafallo that is not the case, he is noticeably slow and lost everywhere on the ice.

The Kings have serious issues next year with 35 year old Kopitar, Iafallo and Peterson taking up $23m in cap space.

 

[Schmooley]

The Kopitar thing is partly coaching but mostly a management/scouting problem. That is why the comments that are critical of Kopitar’s play, that while legit are pretty unfair in the big picture. This is a player nearing 35 years old, with 1300 NHL games in a demanding role as both the teams top scoring and top shut down center for basically his entire career. At this stage he should be playing a veteran 2nd line role as he finishes up his Hall of Fame career, but because of the failure to replace him (especially offensively) with any of the four centers taken in 2017-2020 we are at this stage with an older player clearly slowing down but sadly still the best option down the middle.

I bet there are more 1st/2nd line players in the NHL that are 22 or under than there are ones who are 34 or older. But some say it’s unfair to expect any of the Kings young players to have assumed that role but not unfair to rip Kopitar.

Blake and Lombardi wronged Kopitar by screwing up multiple chances to draft his successor the last 7 years.

They never tried anyone in Kopitars place to know what will work. Danault is given a nice chance and we can all agree looks to be the top center right now. Kempe was finally given a chance this year and is performing when nobody thought he was a top line player.
Im grateful to have been able to watch Kopitars career. He is a tremendous talent and hall of famer. Probably my favorite player.
But it is not unfair to him to criticize his play right now because he still runs the show. Hes the captain, top line, top pp… they finally took him off the pk and its doing good. At this point Kopitar plays with 0 emotion yet dictates to the coach that Iafallo is on the top line and dictates to the gm who should be brought in during the offseason. He needs to step down in the offseason and assume a lesser role and should not feel bad about it at all.
Starting next year Byfield should get the nod and if he cant cut it in the next year or two they should look for outside help.

 

[AlphaBravo]

I remember when Iafallo first joined the team he played lights out and was nonstop on the forecheck. He was not scoring in the beginning but he contributed so much to the team. Now, he is neither scoring nor playing like a buzzsaw. Not sure what happened. It’s fine to not score, but it would be nice if he played like he used to.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Here is the ice time breakdown for Kings PP this season.....ludicrously bad when you look at the #s and tmacs hesitancy to try anything different.


View attachment 529612

When I look at this, the first thought that would come to any rational hockey guy is to scratch Kaliyev

 

[DaAnimal]

I remember when Iafallo first joined the team he played lights out and was nonstop on the forecheck. He was not scoring in the beginning but he contributed so much to the team. Now, he is neither scoring nor playing like a buzzsaw. Not sure what happened. It’s fine to not score, but it would be nice if he played like he used to.

Hmmm, you make it sound like he was a 30 goal scorer or 60 pt forward. You mentioned "contribution." What was he really contributing? Because I can tell you Kopitar had a breakout year in stats when AI joined and Stevens plugged him in a couple of times here and there, all of sudden Kopitar and Doughty were raving about his "intangibles." But when he started playing with Kopitar "formally" in his line, Kopitar went from a potential 100pt player to a mediocre 60 pt player after sticking with AI.. so statistically speaking AI is contributing in what sense? Lol. AI has always been a upgraded version of Trevor Lewis but Trevor Lewis never averaged 18mins of TOI nor was he in any PP. Defensively he's an okay player and forechecks pretty well. But if you're a top 6 winger in today's league, you're expected to score goals, that is your "contribution" as a top 6 forward.

AI at best is a bottom 6 forward, even during his "prime." But the game has changed so much over the course of 5 years. His "forecheck" ability is not what 1st line LWer should be doing. He's always lacked finish. I mean after his first year he started in the PP unit, but stats wise, he never broke 10 pts LOL. I just don't get it when people say he "used to be good." Lol.

People need to lay off the AI kool aide and be realistic.

 

[Schmooley]

Hmmm, you make it sound like he was a 30 goal scorer or 60 pt forward. You mentioned "contribution." What was he really contributing? Because I can tell you Kopitar had a breakout year in stats when AI joined and Stevens plugged him in a couple of times here and there, all of sudden Kopitar and Doughty were raving about his "intangibles." But when he started playing with Kopitar "formally" in his line, Kopitar went from a potential 100pt player to a mediocre 60 pt player after sticking with AI.. so statistically speaking AI is contributing in what sense? Lol. AI has always been a upgraded version of Trevor Lewis but Trevor Lewis never averaged 18mins of TOI nor was he in any PP. Defensively he's an okay player and forechecks pretty well. But if you're a top 6 winger in today's league, you're expected to score goals, that is your "contribution" as a top 6 forward.

AI at best is a bottom 6 forward, even during his "prime." But the game has changed so much over the course of 5 years. His "forecheck" ability is not what 1st line LWer should be doing. He's always lacked finish. I mean after his first year he started in the PP unit, but stats wise, he never broke 10 pts LOL. I just don't get it when people say he "used to be good." Lol.

Ive never loved him either. But he did used to at least hustle and play really hard and chippy. Hes been pretty passive for a while now and just chips pucks into corners and absorbs contact. He hasnt been forechecking well or throwing hits and is having trouble making plays on the the wall in his own zone. Its time he gets demoted or scratched cause its been months now.
If hes on the top line and pp again next season im not spending a dime on this team. Just a real slap in the face to the fans that pay to watch a guy struggle for so long and get rewarded.

 

[kingsfan28]

Also gotta love the idea of starting with bjornfot-durzi against one of the biggest team in the league at home with last change

just big brain stuff all around

It's like some reverse-werewolf thing where TM goes from a neurosurgeon on non-game-days into a toddler splashing in his own piss puddle at game time

Someone brought up the Muzzin-Martinez comparion. I didn't really think so until the last few games. It's been either one guy or the other making mistakes and there's no one to cover up for them. Bjornfot has cost us at least 4 goals over the last few games, and as Durzi goes to cover for him, he's now the liability. I can't believe Maata is the one guy who could be the stabalizer of those two.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Someone brought up the Muzzin-Martinez comparion. I didn't really think so until the last few games. It's been either one guy or the other making mistakes and there's no one to cover up for them. Bjornfot has cost us at least 4 goals over the last few games, and as Durzi goes to cover for him, he's now the liability. I can't believe Maata is the one guy who could be the stabalizer of those two.

It might have been me. Sometimes theres just no chemistry no matter how good two players are. These guys are bad for each other. Muzzin Martinez bad, Athanasiou Byfield bad.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Yeah the "see i told you he sucked' stuff on Iafallo is garbage, he's been awful for at least a couple of months now but that doesn't rewrite what he's historically been, a 20-goal 50-point pace guy who had been getting better year over year when no one else was and forechecked like a madman. That's a top-six forward on any team in the league.

He's visibly off now, whether it's injury or fatigue or whatever doesn't matter and doesn't excuse it, but he's clearly not being that guy right now...but this is also the first time in his career he's slumped like this. This isn't Dwight King on the top line like some people want to make it.

 

[Herby]

Yeah the "see i told you he sucked' stuff on Iafallo is garbage, he's been awful for at least a couple of months now but that doesn't rewrite what he's historically been, a 20-goal 50-point pace guy who had been getting better year over year when no one else was and forechecked like a madman. That's a top-six forward on any team in the league.

He's visibly off now, whether it's injury or fatigue or whatever doesn't matter and doesn't excuse it, but he's clearly not being that guy right now...but this is the first time in his career he's slumped like this.

This is fair, I've always been neutral on him where as many like yourself and others were either to high or to low, IMO. He did produce solidly in his role and was always good all-around and provided a lot of hustle but he was also put into a role on the Kings on the first line and first unit PP next to an MVP candidate that he never would have sniffed on another team in the league. I think in an ideal role on a well constructed team the previous version of Iafallo is a third line guy that is going to get you 35-45 points a year while being capable of filling a top 6 role in the event of an injury.

Right now he really does look like he is barely hanging on in the league, if he is injured so badly that he looks like this he should be on IR, but I am concerned it is not an injury but just a collapse. Remember the Richards excuses in 2014 were largely injury related (viral infection etc.) and then he came back in 2015 and looked even worse.

Iafallo has been a good enough soldier for this team where he deserves a chance to salvage things next season, but he has to be on a very short leash and management has to let him know that. If he isn't injured and is just collapsing its also a poor like for AI that it happens the first year of a big contract extension. But in the current it should never have been able to get this far, he should have been relegated down the lineup weeks ago.

 

[BigKing]

Yeah the "see i told you he sucked' stuff on Iafallo is garbage, he's been awful for at least a couple of months now but that doesn't rewrite what he's historically been, a 20-goal 50-point pace guy who had been getting better year over year when no one else was and forechecked like a madman. That's a top-six forward on any team in the league.

He's visibly off now, whether it's injury or fatigue or whatever doesn't matter and doesn't excuse it, but he's clearly not being that guy right now...but this is also the first time in his career he's slumped like this. This isn't Dwight King on the top line like some people want to make it.

I said early on that he was a souped up Trevor Lewis and it wasn't an insult. If Trevor Lewis was planted next to Kopitar all season--at the same age as Iafallo has been--and given tons of PP time, he could pace at 20G/50P as well. Now, that means the Kings would be a horrible team which, of course, is what the Kings have been with Iafallo as a first line wing and top PP guy. My concern over locking him up to the contract was that he's been a good player on horrible teams but what happens when the expectations ramp up and opposing teams start to take you seriously?

I don't dislike Iafallo and, like Herby, have mostly been neutral on him except for how I wanted him to be paired with Byfield because I do value Iafallo's responsible play and willingness to be a puck hound. I do wonder if his skillset meshes better on a line with Kopitar when Brown is the other winger as opposed to Kempe. He's going to look more effective when there is more of an offensive zone grind going on v. a rush. That said, he still shouldn't look as bad as he has. While it was never 100% true that Kopitar was carrying him, Iafallo isn't some supreme talent that is going to make things happen for himself. A declining Kopitar is going to hurt him. Regardless, it is insanely lazy coaching to just roll him out on the power play non-stop. It's the kind of coaching that takes you to a 3-0 series lead only to get reverse swept.

To continue with the coaching, the Kopitar stuff is ridiculous. Many of us have been banging the drum on lowering his minutes and now we are seeing the completely expected results: he's gassed. This season is nice for the defensemen side of the prospect pool but it is going to be a real disaster for them to just miss the playoffs--or make it and get housed by COL--on the back of just riding Kopitar in to the ground. While Byfield has disappointed and none of the other 20 highly touted center prospects have shown they can be legit centers at this level, they should be giving Byfield a few more minutes at the expense of Kopitar.

My favorite move yesterday though was scratching Kaliyev. Grundstrom scored so that's nice but, I don't know, you can finally put the Lizotte line back together and Todd galaxy brains it. PP is a mess but we don't need the most dangerous shooter on the team out there.

I've been enjoying the ride when they pull points out of their asses because winning is fun: especially after so much sucking the last few years. Real strong 2018 vibes from this team though in regards to a bit of smoke and mirrors. Riding some career years from guys that have never put it together like this before. That 2018 team rode some career years, a back-from-the-dead Dustin Brown and a 12-1-5 record from its back up goalies. Next season they are in contention for dead last.

We'll see how this season winds up but, again, this off-season is crucial for Byfield and Blake. Byfield needs to live every minute of this summer devoted to being a better NHL player. For Blake, this summer will define his rebuild. Moves will need to be made, prospects will need to be dealt and he needs to identify the right ones to move. He's probably already sat on his hands too long and watched assets depreciate. That said, if Byfield isn't as advertised then this whole production is f***ed.

 

[kingsfan28]

Yeah the "see i told you he sucked' stuff on Iafallo is garbage, he's been awful for at least a couple of months now but that doesn't rewrite what he's historically been, a 20-goal 50-point pace guy who had been getting better year over year when no one else was and forechecked like a madman. That's a top-six forward on any team in the league.

He's visibly off now, whether it's injury or fatigue or whatever doesn't matter and doesn't excuse it, but he's clearly not being that guy right now...but this is also the first time in his career he's slumped like this. This isn't Dwight King on the top line like some people want to make it.

But not too far off. AI is a coaches favorite, there's no doubt about it, but what he's not been doing for months, and only being a defensive specialist doesn't justify him being out there for 18 plus minutes on the top line. And the pp too. TM continued use of him, hoping he's gonna come around soon is hurting the team more than helping.

 

[johnjm22]

I think in the modern NHL it's difficult for goalies to have sustained success unless they have size. Without it, you need some other stand-out attribute to compensate like great athleticism.

Petersen doesn't have size by NHL standards, nor does he have any other skills that really stick out. He's likely a backup.

With that being said, I didn't really think he played particularly poorly in this game. Even with a great goaltending performance, the Kings still likely give up 4 in this game.

 

[bland]

It's sad that the coaching staff is so stupid that they can't realize these two are not working together.

This Morgan fellow has it backwards.

 

[bland]

Someone brought up the Muzzin-Martinez comparion. I didn't really think so until the last few games. It's been either one guy or the other making mistakes and there's no one to cover up for them. Bjornfot has cost us at least 4 goals over the last few games, and as Durzi goes to cover for him, he's now the liability. I can't believe Maata is the one guy who could be the stabalizer of those two.

Its 100% Durzi. You cannot ask a rookie partner to try and understand what Durzi is doing out there. He isn't predictable, his reads and positioning are so far below NHL standard that no rookie has nearly enough experience to read and react to what he is doing. Bjornfot isn't ready to play defense for himself AND his partner. His game has really dropped off since he was paired with Durzi.

 

[bland]

The problem with Kopitar's deployment isn't new, it's the same issue they have faced since Carter faded. It's just more visable now since he has slowed with age.

The Kings have insisted on using their #1 offensive unit as their primary matchup unit for years. It works if you have the depth, but when you don't you are putting an unnecessary burden on your team's offensive structure. Too many hard minutes spent defending and chasing instead of establishing pressure.

When you match up your #1 unit with the opposition you are creating a scenario in which they hopefully cancel each other out, leaving the game to be a matchup of depth players, 2nd and 3rd lines playing each other. Without offensive depth, its awfully hard to win those matchups.

Best case scenario is to create a matchup line on your 3rd unit and leave the offensive lines to play against the oppositions depth units. Remove the burden, ease up the minutes.

 

[Gjwrams]

I said early on that he was a souped up Trevor Lewis and it wasn't an insult. If Trevor Lewis was planted next to Kopitar all season--at the same age as Iafallo has been--and given tons of PP time, he could pace at 20G/50P as well. Now, that means the Kings would be a horrible team which, of course, is what the Kings have been with Iafallo as a first line wing and top PP guy. My concern over locking him up to the contract was that he's been a good player on horrible teams but what happens when the expectations ramp up and opposing teams start to take you seriously?

I don't dislike Iafallo and, like Herby, have mostly been neutral on him except for how I wanted him to be paired with Byfield because I do value Iafallo's responsible play and willingness to be a puck hound. I do wonder if his skillset meshes better on a line with Kopitar when Brown is the other winger as opposed to Kempe. He's going to look more effective when there is more of an offensive zone grind going on v. a rush. That said, he still shouldn't look as bad as he has. While it was never 100% true that Kopitar was carrying him, Iafallo isn't some supreme talent that is going to make things happen for himself. A declining Kopitar is going to hurt him. Regardless, it is insanely lazy coaching to just roll him out on the power play non-stop. It's the kind of coaching that takes you to a 3-0 series lead only to get reverse swept.

To continue with the coaching, the Kopitar stuff is ridiculous. Many of us have been banging the drum on lowering his minutes and now we are seeing the completely expected results: he's gassed. This season is nice for the defensemen side of the prospect pool but it is going to be a real disaster for them to just miss the playoffs--or make it and get housed by COL--on the back of just riding Kopitar in to the ground. While Byfield has disappointed and none of the other 20 highly touted center prospects have shown they can be legit centers at this level, they should be giving Byfield a few more minutes at the expense of Kopitar.

My favorite move yesterday though was scratching Kaliyev. Grundstrom scored so that's nice but, I don't know, you can finally put the Lizotte line back together and Todd galaxy brains it. PP is a mess but we don't need the most dangerous shooter on the team out there.

I've been enjoying the ride when they pull points out of their asses because winning is fun: especially after so much sucking the last few years. Real strong 2018 vibes from this team though in regards to a bit of smoke and mirrors. Riding some career years from guys that have never put it together like this before. That 2018 team rode some career years, a back-from-the-dead Dustin Brown and a 12-1-5 record from its back up goalies. Next season they are in contention for dead last.

We'll see how this season winds up but, again, this off-season is crucial for Byfield and Blake. Byfield needs to live every minute of this summer devoted to being a better NHL player. For Blake, this summer will define his rebuild. Moves will need to be made, prospects will need to be dealt and he needs to identify the right ones to move. He's probably already sat on his hands too long and watched assets depreciate. That said, if Byfield isn't as advertised then this whole production is f***ed.

Great post..... I echo this...If Byfield, Vilardi and Turcotte don't turn out to be more than average middle-6ers, we will morph into a Minnesota type team, borderline annual playoff team. Some years better than others.

I have very serious concerns about Turcotte even making it through an NHL season right now and am not feeling super fuzzy about Vilardi. Byfield next year will be a huge question/answer.

 

[motalar]

Its 100% Durzi. You cannot ask a rookie partner to try and understand what Durzi is doing out there. He isn't predictable, his reads and positioning are so far below NHL standard that no rookie has nearly enough experience to read and react to what he is doing. Bjornfot isn't ready to play defense for himself AND his partner. His game has really dropped off since he was paired with Durzi.

Absolutely. I remember when Bjornfot was being praised for his aggresiveness and willingness to carry the puck deep into the offensive zone---when he was paired with Anderson. Now he takes no chances and has become relatively passive. Furthermore, I thought McClellan was unfair to callout Bjornfot particularly on the 3rd (Spurgeon) goal. That was just as much on Iafallo for trying to leave the zone early and letting Spurgeon pinch.

 

[SaltyElkHunter]

Book hasn’t changed on T Mac which is ironic. Incapable of making adjustments and hitting the right levers when the team hits the wall.I think the phrase is has all the tools doesn’t have the tool box.

 

[Herby]

Absolutely. I remember when Bjornfot was being praised for his aggresiveness and willingness to carry the puck deep into the offensive zone---when he was paired with Anderson. Now he takes no chances and has become relatively passive. Furthermore, I thought McClellan was unfair to callout Bjornfot particularly on the 3rd (Spurgeon) goal. That was just as much on Iafallo for trying to leave the zone early and letting Spurgeon pinch.

You have a better chance of seeing Don Cherry coach the Russian National Team than you do of Todd McLellan criticizing Alex Iafallo.

 

[AbsentMojo]

Petersen doesn't have size by NHL standards, nor does he have any other skills that really stick out. He's likely a backup.

Here you nailed it. How Ranford and others in the scouting dept who gave the blessing felt he was worth 5M is puzzling. To put in perspective where he slots in salary-wise - Kuemper, Koskinen, and Fred Andersen all making 4.5M. Jack Campbell 1.6M wouldve been the safer choice.. but its clear they were sold on him after last season.

 

[Sol]

If Byfield doesn’t improve big next year I’m going to come after you RJ. Stutzle 20 points in 23 games… and they called ME a mad man when I wanted the more talented player.

 

[AlphaBravo]

Hmmm, you make it sound like he was a 30 goal scorer or 60 pt forward. You mentioned "contribution." What was he really contributing? Because I can tell you Kopitar had a breakout year in stats when AI joined and Stevens plugged him in a couple of times here and there, all of sudden Kopitar and Doughty were raving about his "intangibles." But when he started playing with Kopitar "formally" in his line, Kopitar went from a potential 100pt player to a mediocre 60 pt player after sticking with AI.. so statistically speaking AI is contributing in what sense? Lol. AI has always been a upgraded version of Trevor Lewis but Trevor Lewis never averaged 18mins of TOI nor was he in any PP. Defensively he's an okay player and forechecks pretty well. But if you're a top 6 winger in today's league, you're expected to score goals, that is your "contribution" as a top 6 forward.

AI at best is a bottom 6 forward, even during his "prime." But the game has changed so much over the course of 5 years. His "forecheck" ability is not what 1st line LWer should be doing. He's always lacked finish. I mean after his first year he started in the PP unit, but stats wise, he never broke 10 pts LOL. I just don't get it when people say he "used to be good." Lol.

People need to lay off the AI kool aide and be realistic.

Contributing the way Lizzotte contributes. Keeping the puck in the O Zone. No better defense than offensive pressure. I never said he was a top goal scorer. Nor do I think he is a 1st liner. He should be a 3rd liner.

 

[AbsentMojo]

If Byfield doesn’t improve big next year I’m going to come after you RJ. Stutzle 20 points in 23 games… and they called ME a mad man when I wanted the more talented player.

This is no different than picking a conservative stock with limited upside - guaranteed to make you some money, vs having bulging eyes going after a big payday and buying a house. 19 yrs old is not when you assess whether your gamble has worked or not... But, QB stock is down at the moment. If he looks the same after a couple months into next season we may have another offensive bust on our hands which would be right in line with the Kings legacy.

 

[SFKingshomer]

If Byfield doesn’t improve big next year I’m going to come after you RJ. Stutzle 20 points in 23 games… and they called ME a mad man when I wanted the more talented player.

Pretty confident Byfield would do similar if given the chance to do whatever he wants on the ice. Completely different scenarios the 2 are in...